Labor’s answer: Take the government out of marriage and instead make it a religious decisionLabor’s position on marriage equality could not be clearer: within 100 days of being elected, same-sex marriage legislation will be introduced to the Parliament, but with Malcolm Turnbull, it’s anyone’s — including his own ministers’ —...Source

Should gay couples have the same adoption rights as straight couples?statsdiscuss

Animal Justice’s answer: Yes"We recently adopted a position statement on marriage equality. We believe that accepting the yes side of the debate flows clearly from our core...Source

Should terminally ill patients be allowed to end their lives via assisted suicide?statsdiscuss

Animal Justice’s answer: Yes"The AJP supports voluntary euthanasia with appropriate safeguards to ensure
that the choice is free and well informed. This choice should only be available
when a person is diagnosed with a disease, illness or medical condition that
is incurable, advanced, progressive and will cause death; and is experiencing
suffering that cannot be relieved in a manner that the person considers tolerable."Source

Labor’s answer: Yes, but only after a psychological examination to show they fully understand this choiceLabor MP Lara Giddings presented a motion calling for a legal framework around voluntary assisted dying. Ms Giddings said it was wrong that people with terminal illnesses and severe degenerative conditions were forced to endure prolonged suffering or resort to taking their own lives.Source

Should businesses be required to have women on their board of directors?statsdiscuss

Labor’s answer: No, there should be no paid parental leavePregnancy discrimination should be eliminated – helping parents to take time off to care for their new baby is in the community interest. Paid parental leave helps new parents stay connected with the workplace when they take time off to care for a baby, and it helps employers retain skilled staff. Childcare and parental leave remove barriers to work for parents and improve productivity and participation for the economy.Source

Labor’s answer: NoResources spokesman Gary Gray and Right faction senators Mark Bishop and Alex Gallacher called for the party’s approach to nuclear power and uranium exports to be discussed in a move that could provoke a damaging split with the party’s Left faction. Mr Gray said there was “absolutely no solution to global base load power generation that does not feature a strong role for nuclear power" and while Australia did not need to build a nuclear power station at present as power use had fallen in recent years, “in my view it is completely reasonable that nuclear options should be able to be ­considered".
“I believe it is reasonable that the debate and the discussion take place because I think Australians are up for it, the environment is crying out for this debate and base load power generation for future generations, globally, requires a strong role for nuclear power."
Read more: http://www.afr.com/business/energy/nuclear-energy/labor-mps-urge-rethink-on-nuclear-power-Source

Labor’s answer: YesThe cheapest, most effective way to address climate change is to put a legal cap on pollution, underpinned by a market mechanism that lets business work out the best way to operate within that cap. There also needs to be strong support for renewable energy development and generation.Source

Should the government allow the sale of Australian agricultural land and water to foreign buyers?statsdiscuss

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Labor’s answer: Yes, but producers should not be able to patent seedsInnovations of agricultural biotechnologies, such as GM crops, are important in making Australian farming more productive, competitive, environmentally sustainable and improving financial returns at the farm gate. It is essential Australia maintains an independent, scientific and evidence-based regulatory system for GM crops to ensure the safety and the access by farmers of such innovations.Source

Should the government allow the mining and export of Uranium?statsdiscuss

Labor’s answer: YesIn relation to exports other than to India, Labor will allow the export of uranium only to those countries that observe the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), are committed to nonproliferation policies, and have ratified international and bilateral nuclear safeguards agreements.
Source

Do you support building a nuclear waste storage facility in the Northern Territory?statsdiscuss

Labor’s answer: Yes, but only if there is no risk to the environmentThe Federal Labor Government is planning to build Australia's first nuclear waste dump and has earmarked Muckaty as its preferred...Source

Should cities be allowed to offer private companies economic incentives to relocate?statsdiscuss

Should the government increase funding for mental health research and treatment?statsdiscuss

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Labor’s answer: Yes, our mental healthcare system needs more funding to provide a higher quality of care and servicesLabor is committed to continuing the key role of government in leading and promoting reform of Australia’s mental health service system. Labor will work in partnership with the states and territories to ensure more seamless services that respond flexibly to people’s needs and follow of a recovery oriented approach.Source

Should the government regulate the prices of life-saving drugs?statsdiscuss

Labor’s answer: Yes, and immediately release anyone serving time solely for drug offensesThe therapeutic benefits of cannabis for cancer, epileptics and multiple sclerosis patients requires major reform, allowing marijuana to be treated as a medicinal product rather than recreational...Source

Should there be more or less privatization of hospital and healthcare services?statsdiscuss

Should hospitals continue to be funded on fee-for-service model?statsdiscuss

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Labor’s answer: Yes"There's broad agreement on hospitals. Both Labor and the Coalition support activity-based funding, which means funding hospitals based on the care and services they provide for a set number of patients at a set...Source

Labor’s answer: No, banning immigrants based on their religion is unconstitutionalWe celebrate immigration, we cherish the miracle of multiculturalism and we believe in an Australia where migrants, refugees and people of all traditions and faiths, or no faith, are respected, valued, welcome and...Source

Should immigrants be required to pass a citizenship test to demonstrate a basic understanding of our country’s language, history, and government?statsdiscuss

Labor’s answer: Yes, do not turn back boats and process them onshoreLabor in Government will increase the humanitarian intake of refugees...and provide asylum seekers with an alternative to boat travel to...Source

Should the government increase or decrease the amount of temporary work visas given to high-skilled immigrant workers?statsdiscuss

Labor’s answer: DecreaseLabor will not allow trade agreements to limit the capacity of the Australian Government to determine immigration policies that promote education and training, permanent rather than temporary migration, local employment and fair employment standards. Labor will ensure future trade agreements do not prevent Australia from effectively regulating temporary migration, including by requiring genuine labour market testing for temporary work visas as well as Australian market wages and employment rights for immigrant workers where genuine skills shortages are deemed to exist. Labor will ensure trade agreements promote recruitment of local labour and protect the wages and conditions of local workers.Source

Should immigrants be allowed to hold dual citizenship status?statsdiscuss

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Should employers be required to pay men and women the same salary for the same job?statsdiscuss

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Labor’s answer: Yes, and businesses should be required to publish their salary ranges for each positionLabor will regulate and educate employers to promote equal opportunity, gender pay equity and work and family balance. Labor will improve gender pay equity including through effective data collection from business by government. Labor will enact an equal pay for equal or comparable work strategy underpinned by legal obligations. Labor will act to bridge the gap in women’s retirement incomes.Source

Should workers continue to be paid double wages on Sunday?statsdiscuss

Labor’s answer: YesBroadly, Labor considers a fair tax system would encourage all Australians to work, equitably distribute wealth and allow governments to provide public services. However, Labor also supports the allocative efficiency of markets, “except where interventions would address market failures and serve environmental or social purposes”.
The National Platform states that Labor tax reform would ensure “everyone pays their fair share of tax” and specifically mentions that executives and the wealthy should pay a “fairer” share of tax. The stated goal of these reforms is to ensure that all levels of government have a sound revenue base for investing in social and economic infrastructure and quality public services.
The Rudd Labor government announced its response to the Henry Review in May 2010. The centrepiece of this announcement was the Resources Super Profits Tax (RSPT), a 40% tax on mining profits, in addition to the normal level of company tax. All non‐renewable resources were included, although companies co...Source

If their projects involve water, should coal companies be subject to additional government regulations?statsdiscuss

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Labor’s answer: YesLabor would also revisit changes to water management laws that took “Queensland back 30 years”, including the LNP’s scrapping of water licences for coal seam gas...Source

Should there be fewer or more restrictions on current welfare benefits?statsdiscuss

Labor’s answer: Yes, a national high-speed fibre optic network is crucial for the future of Australia's economyThe National Broadband Network is the biggest, most important infrastructure project in Australia’s history. It is vital to the way we will provide health services, deliver a world class education, do business, deliver smart infrastructure and build a strong and growing economy.Source

Should the government use economic stimulus to aid the country during times of recession?statsdiscuss

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Labor’s answer: Yes, but in the form of tax breaks for all citizensDuring the global financial crisis, Labor’s economic stimulus and investment in the future combined in a period of nation building, creating new opportunities in modern communications and transport for people and goods, lifting long-term productivity and competitiveness and creating economic prosperity.Source

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Labor’s answer: Help"Affiliated unions give financial support to the ALP, and have voting rights at State Conference, where they are represented by 50% of delegates to the conference." (Applies nationally...Source

Should the government provide tax incentives to private companies to keep jobs within the country?statsdiscuss

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Should pension payments be increased for retired government workers?statsdiscuss

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Labor’s answer: YesAll senior Australians deserve to share in Australia’s rising community living standards and to live with dignity and financial security in retirement. Labor will lift retirement incomes fairly and take pressure off the aged pension. Labor will provide a strong and sustainable pension system. Labor will maintain and strengthen pension indexation to reflect the rising cost of living and broader community living standards.Source

Should the government make cuts to public spending in order to reduce the national debt?statsdiscuss

Labor’s answer: YesLabor says the Turnbull government should ban a new version of a rapid-fire shotgun from being imported into Australia while a review considers claims the gun type seriously undermines post-Port Arthur gun control...Source

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Labor’s answer: Yes"Australia seeks a good international society. Our national interest is in a peaceful, stable and prosperous world. There are many challenges to this global vision – including the threat of conflict between states, the rise of non-state actors, growing economic inequality and climate change. Australia should work with like-minded countries, and through regional and global institutions, to respond to complex problems beyond the capacity of any one country to solve. Australia is a founding member of the United Nations, a member of the G20 and an enduring ally of the United States."Source

Labor’s answer: Yes, but we should accept much more than the proposed 10,000 refugeesAustralia has committed to take 13,750 refugees from across the world this financial year – but Labor is calling for an additional 10,000 places to deal with Syrian refugees, $100m in aid and an emergency meeting to deal with the...Source

Should the government conduct military strikes against North Korea in order to destroy their long-range missile and nuclear weapons capabilities?statsdiscuss

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Should Australia take an aggressive stance against Japanese whalers?statsdiscuss

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Labor’s answer: Yes, and take an active stance to stop whaling all over the worldAs part of their party’s National Platform and Constitution 2009, the Australian Labor Governmentpledged their commitment to “end the slaughter of whales for all time” (www.alp.org). In pursuit ofthis, the Rudd Government has initiated proceedings against Japan in the International Court ofJustice (ICJ) over a breach of international obligations regarding their scientific whaling program inthe Southern OceanSource

Should the government send in ground troops to fight ISIS?statsdiscuss

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Should Australia allow the U.S. to operate military bases located in Australia.statsdiscuss

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Labor’s answer: Yes"Up to 2,500 US Marines will be stationed in Australia by 2017 under a new agreement announced by Prime Minister Julia Gillard and US president Barack Obama.
Ms Gillard confirmed the deployment during a joint press conference with Mr Obama only hours after he touched down in Canberra on his whirlwind visit.
She says 200 to 250 Marines will be stationed in Darwin for training from next year, with numbers building up to 2,500 over the next five years.
"It is a new agreement to expand the existing collaboration between the Australian Defence Force and the US Marine Corps and the US Air Force," she said"Source

Should the government increase or decrease military spending?statsdiscuss

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Labor’s answer: Increase, but only for countries that have no human rights violationsLabor will grow the Australian aid program and increase Official Development Assistance to
internationally accepted levels. Australia should do its fair share internationally, and work with the international community to achieve the longstanding funding targets reiterated by the SDGs. Labor will, over time, achieve a funding target for the aid program of at least 0.5 per cent of Gross National Income.Source

Should Australia back the Egyptian military's crackdown against the muslim brotherhood?statsdiscuss

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Should the government allow the export of live animals to foreign countries?statsdiscuss

Animal Justice’s answer: NoThe AJP opposes the commercial export, whether by sea or air, of live animals; this includes but isn’t limited to sheep, cattle, horses, donkeys, camels and goats.
Key Objectives
To promote an enquiry into Australia’s agricultural exports to determine those plant based products best suited to expand and replace the 3.7 percent of our agricultural exports that is the live animal export industry.
To increase investments in the industries identified by this enquiry.Source

Labor’s answer: NoLast November Labor forced Indonesia to shore up its meat supplies by cutting live export permits from Australia and looking for alternative sources of cattle, and now that cut in permits has been extended to boxed...Source

Should the government pass laws which protect whistleblowers?statsdiscuss

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